What a Way to Start 2010!
It looks and feels like I’ve been in a boxing match. I got 3 of my wisdom teeth out and it hurts, still. They couldn’t remove the bottom left one since it was right on a nerve and there was a 99% chance of them cutting it. Why don’t they just round that up to 100%? I had a bone graft done on that tooth, so they could expose it and do some more work on it later on. I didn’t realize it would still be hurting after 7 days. I am trying not to take so much vicodin since it can be addictive, but still have to take it at night to fall asleep. Anyway, it’s a relief to finally have that over with, something I should have done 20 years ago but kept putting it off, despite advice from various dentists.
Because of the surgery, I’ve decided to start my resolutions in February, like Lloyd mentioned last year. I also think it’s a good idea to take some time to get over the craziness of the holidays and end of year madness.
Before Priya was born, I used to be able to jog 6 miles. OMG. Must start somewhere.
Despite many attempts at yoga, I have failed to catch on. I finally figured out that this is something that you need to consistently do for it to work, not just take a class here and there.
Again, before the big one was born I used to read 2 novels a week and that quickly turned into ZERO. I’m going to try one a month.
Not trying to point fingers, but since the KIDS were born, I haven’t cooked much but have just started slowly getting back into it.
I must must must go to a chiropractor and stick to it, before I need a back transplant.
And of course the usuals: drink more water, eat more veggies.
Get rid of the tv, print and frame more pictures, send snail mail birthday cards, feng shui my office.
I will finish my Events Certification this year and enroll in another program (maybe a writing class).
The girls: teach them more French and Japanese, start a playgroup, a volunteer activity (they might be too young), enroll them in a class and complete my research on where I want them to attend school.
A Fresh Tomato
I am really picky about my movies, especially if I have to get dressed, drive to the movie theater, pay $10 and remain seated for 2.5 hours. Last week we saw Red Cliff. It was so good. It just had everything that goes into making a classically good movie, not to mention beautiful cinematography, costumes and female characters who did much more than just look pretty. It’s a war epic which means quite a bit of violence – the fight scenes were so well choreographed and executed.
The Card Game
I rarely have time to watch anything on TV, so when I do get a chance I try to make it worthwhile. I watched this documentary last night on PBS about how banks have used and continue to use abuse and manipulation to destroy people’s lives. So so sad. The bankers say it’s capitalism, but if capitalism involves kicking people when they’re down and unethical and unfair practices, I don’t want to be a part of it. The only solution I can think of is for people who are trapped to declare bankruptcy and move to another country. It’s nearly impossible to pass any legislation on banking regulation. What do we do now?
3 Years at Automattic!
Today I’ve been with Automattic for 3 years, although it doesn’t seem that long at all. Maybe it’s because we’re virtual and I don’t see my co-workers very much but I’m sure it’s more like the “Time flies when you’re having fun” cliche. A lot has changed in the past year work-wise…. I’ve handed off duties and acquired new ones. I think it’s time for a new title, actually. Suggestions please. We’ve got several new employees. I’m so happy to have more females on the team. I think it helps to keep a good balance.
A few highlights for me:
- Attending WordCamp China
- Attending WordCamp Hong Kong
- Our successful WordCamp in May where we had 750 attendees.
- Meeting the team in Breckenridge, CO in October.
I looked forward to another fun-filled year and am certain I will learn so much more.
The White Glove and the Cute Tiger Cub
MJ thoughts and memories:
My dad brought home the Thriller album (vinyl of course) after work one day and my sister and I jumped up and down and screamed for joy for a good 10 minutes. I begged my parents to let me bring it to my Girl Scouts meeting that was later the same evening. They wouldn’t let me but I remember all my Girl Scout buddies being jealous of me. 
Almost all my birthday parties in my childhood were sleep overs in which our Thriller album was played over and over. This went well with the theme since my birthday’s on Halloween. I don’t think there was one Halloween where a mini MJ was not spotted trick-or-treating during those years.
I know all the words to his songs and the dance moves to Thriller. Please don’t ask me to prove that statement.
My sister and I had this poster in our shared bedroom growing up.
The janitor at my elementary school used to sell round pins with his picture on them during lunch time in the cafeteria, which sounds a bit creepy now that I’m thinking about it. We used to bring our piggy bank money in to buy them.
At our 5th grade graduation, there was a dance performance by one of the popular kids that included white glove and all.
Who hasn’ t done the moonwalk at least once?
Breakin’ the law
As of January 1, 2009 texting while driving has been illegal in California. But what does that really mean?
Are you allowed to text while you’re at a dead standstill in traffic?
How about when you’re in a parked car with the engine running?
What about if you’re stopped at a red light?
This law does not prohibit reading, entering or selecting a phone number. How does law enforcement determine if you were texting or typing in a phone number?
Is sending e-mails from your blackberry or i-phone illegal?
If texting while driving is illegal, shouldn’t inputting directions into your GPS be also?
If you’re pulled over and charged the fine is only $20-$50. I still see people talking on their cell phones while driving all the time. This is such an important law but difficult to enforce. They might as well just make doing anything while driving illegal. But where do we draw the line? No putting on makeup, no talking on the phone, no talking at all!!!
Good Things
I was thinking about this on the drive home on the 101 last night. These are some awesome things that I’ve always liked or just discovered I like, in no particular order:
San Francisco: The Original One
WordCamp 2009 is on May 30th!!! This year promises to top the last. Please register and come out to learn, meet awesome people, get cool schwag and eat good food.
Slumdog Millionaire
We don’t get to go to the movies much anymore so when we do we try to make it worthwhile. I’ve been disappointed at the last few movies I’ve seen in a theater like Burn after Reading. I just did not get that whole thing. Brad Pitt acting like a moron for 2 hours – I don’t understand.
When I heard about the movie Slumdog Millionaire, I had to admit it sounded some like gangster movie with Mark Wahlberg or perhaps Al Pacino. After reading about it I was pretty eager to go see it even though I hadn’t read the book. What a refreshing movie. I loved that it showed that side of India, which many Americans don’t know about – the corruption, the mafia like culture, exploitation of children, etc. Yes, still in 2008. The way the whole movie was tied into an episode of the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” was creative and unique.
What people may not know is that Anil Kapoor is a Bollywood star. Bollywood movies are fun to watch and all contain one or more of these elements: dancing, romance, betrayal, long lost love, and just basically a lot of melodrama. I was happy to see them in this film where they could show a different kind of their acting skill.
The music in the film was M.I.A., one of my favorite artists, which suited the theme perfectly.
It’s nice to see good Indian actors in a movie about Indian people in India. I’m still a little disappointed when I remember Ben Kingsley and Amy Irving with dark makeup on their faces. There are so many stories and truths that need to be heard from India and many talented people there that can do it.
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